Fig Leaves

“8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the Truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us.” 1 John 1:8-10

Some will say this Scripture was not written to Believers. Please don’t be deceived, the Word of God is written for Believers. Why would the lost care about confessing their sin? The better question is, why would the Believer NOT want to confess their sins to God and be forgiven?

“6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.” Genesis 3:6-8

Too many of the grace revolution sect claim that 1 John 1:8-10 was written to unbelievers. Let me tell you friend, they are using that Scripture as a fig leaf to hide from God in their sin. Jesus Christ came to die on Calvary’s Cross to pay the penalty of sin (death) and break the power of sin in the Believer’s life (Romans 6:14). When we stumble, we repent and the Lord is faithful to forgive us.

However, don’t mistake God’s forgiveness for His deliverance. Once we are forgiven, we don’t have to fast 21 days to overcome; we don’t seek 40 days of purpose for our victory and we don’t simply change our mind to overcome sin…we stand, submitted to God and HE commands our victory. The Scripture says SUBMIT to God and the devil will flee (James 4:7).

Once Adam and Eve ate of the tree of good and evil, they were no more God conscience and were made self conscience. All are now born with the sin nature because of Adam’s fall. We are born conscience of self. It is not until we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior that we are alive unto God and have the power to submit to God (Romans 6:13) if we so choose…and choose we must. Precept upon precept, line upon line, we must choose daily to deny ourselves, pick up our cross and follow Jesus.

“9 And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where are you?

10 And he said, I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

11 And He (God) said, Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded you that you should not eat?” Genesis 3:9-11.

Adam was ashamed of the effect of sin. He was sorry of the result of sin but was not repentant of turning his heart from God in unbelief. Adam did not believe that eating from the tree of good and evil would cause him to die…spiritually die unto God. God took any excuse of ignorance away when He asked Adam “…Have you eaten of the tree, where of I commanded you that you should not eat?”

Have you been taught a Believer does not have to repent of their sins? Are you wearing 1 John 1:8-10 as your fig leaf in order to live in sin? Have you been told conviction of the Holy Spirit of sin is condemnation from the devil? Calling the conviction of the Holy Spirit a work of satan is blasphemy. Repent.

“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” 2 Corinthians 6:17

If we are looking for an excuse to sin, we need to consider the condition of our heart. All sin leads to death but life is in the power of the Cross of Jesus Christ.

“For the preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18